Oregon Man Shoots What He Thinks Is A Coyote, Turns Out To Be A Wolf

An Oregon State Police trooper was called out to Union County Monday after a hunter shot and killed what turned out to be a wolf.  A 38-year-old man from Clackamas told investigators he was elk hunting by himself when he noticed animals moving around him.  After a short time, the hunter observed what he thought were coyotes.  One of the animals started to run directly at him.  The hunter claims he screamed at the animal running at him, trying to scare it away.  And when that did not work, he shot and killed the animal.  After that the other two animals disappeared.

The hunter later returned to camp and told fellow hunters that he had shot and killed a coyote.  Several hunters retuned to where the shooting had take place and learned it was a wolf, and contacted OSP.

Further investigation at the site of the shooting indicated the hunter was 27 yards from where he shot and where the wolf died. The wolf was seized and later released to ODFW for examination. The Union County District Attorney's Office was consulted regarding the investigation and based upon the available evidence the case will not be prosecuted as this is believed to be an incidence of self-defense.

It is unlawful to kill a wolf in Oregon, except in defense of human life (and in certain instances involving wolf depredation of livestock).  According to ODFW, this incident marks the first time that a wolf has been reported shot in self-defense in Oregon since they began returning to the state in the late 1990s.

ODFW examined the wolf shot and determined it was an 83-pound female associated with the OR30 pair of wolves occupying the Starkey and Ukiah WMUs in northeast Oregon (Union and Umatilla Counties). Initial examination does not indicate that the wolf was a breeding female, but the wolf's DNA will be analyzed to confirm this.

"Dangerous encounters between wolves and people are rare, as are such encounters between people and cougars, bears and coyotes," said Roblyn Brown, ODFW Acting Wolf Coordinator. "They will usually avoid humans and leave the area when they see, hear, or smell people close by. If you see a wolf or any other animal and are concerned about your safety, make sure it knows you are nearby by talking or yelling to alert it to your presence. If you are carrying a firearm, you can fire a warning shot into the ground."

At this point no charges will be filed.

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